PROCEEDINGS 



OP THE 



STATES 

AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION, 

HELD 

At the Capitol, in the City of Albany, 
On the Hth, 15th and i6th February, 1832 : 



WITH THE 



V 



V- 



CONSTITUTION 



OF A 

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 

AGREED TO AND ADOPTED, 

BY THE SAID CONVENTION. 



ALBANY: 

Printed by Webster and Skinners — 1832. 



* 



I 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



STATE 
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 

HELD 

^v At the Capitol in the City of Albany, 

On the 14th, 15th and 16th February, 1832 : 

WITH THE 

CONSTITUTION 

OF A 

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 

AGREED TO AND ADOPTED, 

BY THE SAID CONVENTION. 



/ r€A 



2 



ALBANY: 

Printed by Webster and Skinners — 1832. 



Ai$ 



PROCEEDINGS 



OP THE 



state MQvituUuv*a ©oufoeuttott 



At a Convention of Delegates, and other Citizens, from dif- 
ferent Counties of the State of New- York, pursuant to 
public notice, in the Assembly Chamber, in the City of Al- 
bany, on the 14th February, 1832 : 

LE RAY DE CHAUMONT, of Jefferson County, was 

chosen President. 

AMBROSE SPENCER, of Albany, and > 

Vice-Presidents. 



i 



HENRY W. DELAVAN, of Saratoga 
JESSE BUEL, of Albany, and ) c . 

AMOS BRIGGS, of Rensselaer, 5 

The following are the names of the Delegates appointed, and 
of other Gentlemen attending from the several Counties, 
viz. 

Albany. Abel French, 

Jesse Buel, P. S. Van Rensselaer, 

Ambrose Spencer, Alfred Conkling, 

S. Van Rensselaer, jr. Charles R. Webster, 

John I. Godfrey, Jacob Ten Eyck, 

Joseph Alexander, Teunis Van Vechten, 

Edward C. Delavan, William Walsh, 

Thomas Hillhouse, William Seymour, 

John Schuyler, D. B. Slingerland, 

Isaiah Townsend, William James, 



Volkert P. Douw, 
Philip Lennebecker, 
Abijah C. Disbrow, 
Benjamin Wester velt, 
Henry W. Snyder, 
Nathan Sanford, 
William Mayell, 
Wm. M'Culloch, 
W. P. Van Rensselaer, 
Benjamin Knower, 
Samuel Cheever, 
Henry Greene. 

ALLEGANY. 

Philip Church. 

CAYUGA. 

W. H. Seward. 

CHENANGO. 

Richard W. Juliand, 
Edmund G. Per Lee, 
Joseph Juliand, 
James Birdsall, 
Samuel Campbell, 
Noah Ely. 

CHAUTAUQUE. 

James Mullet. 

CLINTON. 

Josiah Fisk. 

COLUMBIA. 

John P. Beekman, 
Peter J. Hoes, 
Peter N. Bain, 
Lawrence Van Buren, 
Medad Butler, 



Edward P . Livingston, 
Isaac Mills, 
Jonas White, 
Barent Van Buren, 
Peter Van Alstyne, 
Tobias L. Hogeboom. 

CORTLAND. 

Charles W. Lynde. 

DUTCHESS. 

Isaac Ri Adriance, 
Jacob Shook, 
John Wilkinson, 
Obadiah Titus, 
Robert Coffin, 
Thomas Taber, 
Eli Hamblin, 
Walter Cunningham. 

ESSEX. 

Isaac Vanderwerker, 
Thomas H. Tomlinson. 

ERIE. 

Horace Clark, 
William Mills, 
James Stryker, 
Samuel Russel, 
Peter B, Porter. 

GREENE. 

Dumah Tuttle. 

JEFFERSON. 

Le Ray de Chaumont, 
Orville Hungerford, 
V. Le Ray de Chaumont, 
Edmund Kirby, 



Jason Fairbanks, 
Isaac H. Bronson, 
Perley Keyes, 
Robert Lansing, 
Nathan Strong, 
Philip Maxwell, 
Robert Nichols, 

lewis. 
Andrew W. Doig, 
Francis Segur, 
J. W. Bostwick. 

MONROE. 

Samuel G. Andrews, 
William B. Brown, 
Ira Bellows, 
Giles H. Holden. 

MONTGOMERY. 

John Frey, 
Stephen Reynolds, 
Archibald M'Intyre. 

NEW-YORK. 

S. Fleet, 
M. L. Davis, 
J. B. Murray. 

ONEIDA. 

Milton D. Parker, 
Stephen Fitch, 
Sands Heginbotham, 
Eli Savage. 

ONONDAGA. 

Hiram F. Matthews, 
Elisha Litchfield, 



Elijah W. Curtis, 
Ichabod Ross. 

ONTARIO. 

Francis Granger, 
Robert C. Nicholas. 

ORANGE. 

Charles Winfield, 
John Barker, 
Jacob L. Waldron. 

OSWEGO. 

Peter Skeen Smith, 
Joel Tyrrell. 

OTSEGO. 

George Clark, 
Levi Beardsley, 
S. Page, 

Amasa Thompson, 
Gilbert Cone, 
William Kirby, 
Samuel Col well. 

QUEENS. 

John A. King. 

RENSSELAER. 

G. Tibbits, 
J. D. Dickinson, 
R. P. Hart, 
Jacob Merritt, 
A. P. Heartt, 
J. T. M'Coun, 
R. B. Warren, 
Amos Eaton, 
H. Hickock, 



W. Brookins, 
H. G. Spafford, 
A. C. Lansing, 
A. Walsh, 
E. W. Walbridge, 
E. F. Willey, 

D. C. Norton, 
H. D. Grove, 

H. Knickerbacker, 
A. Briggs, 
A. Knickerbacker, 
A. C. Dennis, 
J. Talmadge, 
T. Van Vechten, 

E. C. Genet, 
Alexander Spencer, 
R. J. Knowlson, 

J. B. Fox, 
L. Eddy, 
J. F. Groesbeck, 
G. M. Pettits, 
J. Wadsworth, 

C. Moffit, 
Col. Hinman, 
J. A. Ten Eyck, 
H. Vandenbergh, 
A. G. Hammond, 
A. Worthington, 
Z. Hewit, 

D. Lemman. 

ROCKLAND. 

C. I. Blauvelt. 



SCHENECTADY. 

W. A. S. North, 
J. B. Duane, 
Abraham Dome, 
Robert Sanders, 
David Ostrom, 
Derick C. Groat, 
Daniel D. Campbell, 
Harman A. Van Slyck, 
John I. De Graff, 
Alexander G. Fonda. 

SCHOHARIE. 

William C. Bouck, 
Jedediah Miller, 
William Deitz. 

SENECA. 

J. H. Halsey, 
John Watkins. 

STEUBEN. 

John M'Burney, 
Andrew B. Dickson, 
Edward Howell. 

SULLIVAN. 

Hiram Bennett. 

TIOGA. 

Nathaniel Smith, 
Joel Talmadge, 
G. M'Dowell. 



SARATOV*. 

H. W. Delavan, 
P. Schuyler, 
O. G. Otis, 
James Brisban, Jr, 
Ebenezer Couch, 
Isaac Geer, 
Samuel Young. 



WASHINGTON. 

John M'Lean, Jr. 

YATES. 

Aaron Remer. 



9 

On motion of Gen. P. Skeen Smith, of Oswego, the 
President was invited to submit some remarks in relation to 
the beneficial results of the society over which he presides, 
upon the agricultural interests of his county. 

Whereupon the President delivered the following address. 

GENTLEMEN, 

I hardly need excuse myself for the defects you will ea- 
sily detect in these remarks upon the few hours which I had 
to devote to them. I might have availed myself of the po- 
liteness of those who called for them, and delayed them till 
our second meeting ; but aware that my want of habit of ad- 
dressing the public, would only be made more apparent by la- 
bour, I preferred to give you, in a plain, farmer-like manner, 
the result of my meditations and experience upon a subject, 
which of all earthly pursuits is the nearest to my heart. I 
thought it also better placed in the opening of our transactions. 
I had with me, for my own reference, notes, letters, &c. which 
bear on the point before us, and I have made extracts from 
them which I hope may not be wholly uninteresting, and 
which I beg leave to occupy a few of your moments to read. 
The call made on me shows that the idea I entertain res- 
pecting an Agricultural State Society, was also that 
of those who made it, viz. that county societies should be 
the support of a state society. Indeed, I do not well under- 
stand how the latter can be extensively useful without the 
former, and I think that they will, in their turn, be improv- 
ed and strengthened by the establishment of the state society. 
Mutually supporting each other, they will find, like this beau- 
tiful confederacy of republics, their force in their union. 

Such is the moral influence of an institution like this, which 
operates upon vast masses of people and of property, that when 
you come to set down coolly, and attempt to reduce to calcu- 
lation some of the benefits resulting to the community, with 
all the allowances you can make, you arrive at a conclusion 
which baffles even the efforts of imagination, whether we 
look to the improvement on agriculture, or the manufacturing 
implements, or the different breeds of animals, seeds, ma- 
chines, &c. &c. 

2 



10 

Even the advantages which may be called collateral, are 
immense, but they are much more difficult to calculate. For 
instance, Gen. Brown, who has been so useful to our Jeffer- 
son county society, and whose irreparable loss we constantly 
lament, has made a calculation in his address which I have 
not heard contradicted. He computes that in the space of 50 
years, the saving to his county in erecting stone, instead of 
wooden buildings, would amount to 10,000,000 of dollars. 
We cannot doubt that the excitement, the emulation, the in- 
crease of property produced by our agricultural societies, will 
be one of the causes which will promote and help such an im- 
provement, yet how can we form an estimate of what is to be 
justly attributed to the society. You could not help admiring 
such a result, and similar ones, if the probable benefits could 
be brought correctly to the test of calculation. Indeed you 
will already find them immense, if you admit for the basis of 
them, only one half of the benefit procured by some of the so- 
cieties, as you will soon notice in the extracts of letters which 
I shall read to you. The characters of their authors claim 
certainly from us a great confidence. Truly the benefits of 
such an institution are so varied, its disadvantages are so few, 
if there are any which with due attention can properly be call- 
ed so, that a part of these benefits alone would be sufficient to 
recommend it to the wisdom of an enlightened people. I 
believe I should not go too far if I should say that, if it had 
no other good than to unite us, one day in the year, the insti- 
tution ought to subsist. As this proposition may appear at 
first sight exaggerated, let us consider our social condition, 
and the influence upon it of such a meeting. We are in this 
country divided, and I am sorry to say sometimes widely, by 
political parties ; we are divided also, but thanks to a heaven- 
ly liberality, mostly by forms, by a multiplicity of religious 
creeds. The first create private animosities and family dis- 
sentions ; but the subject is too generally understood and too 
severely felt to require my dwelling longer upon it. The sec- 
ond prevents the re-union which takes place in most countries 
of Europe, of all the inhabitants of a parish in the same an- 
tique church, which from all ages, has seen their fathers ask 
the blessings of Heaven upon posterity. Prior to, and at the 



11 

close of the ceremony, they generally assemble before the 
church door, and an opportunity is given of meeting those 
with whom perhaps a slight quarrel had created a coolness, 
which, not serious enough to withstand a meeting at the doors 
of the palace of peace, would have degenerated into enmity 
by long separation. I speak from experience when 1 say, that 
these re-unions tend greatly to entertain concord in a neigh- 
bourhood. These agricultural meetings are the only ones in 
which the people of this country can unite with one interest 
and one heart. Who has not felt there a pleasure at seeing 
an old friend from whom distance or business had separated 
him perhaps during the whole year ; or making an acquaint- 
ance which will be a source of comfort and pleasure hereaf- 
ter ; or having an opportunity, and perchance an obligation, 
to speak to one whom some reason, perhaps after all very 
foolish, had alienated. I have here considered those meetings 
only with regard to their social benefits, and they alone would 
be sufficient. The others have, I believe, been already re- 
marked; and every one of you will, for instance admit that 
the communication of information and results of experiments 
which it permits, are among the greatest of those. For my 
part, gentlemen, the pleasure, the benefit which I have de- 
rived from these national jubilees, are such that in the hope 
they may have the same effect upon others, I would not re- 
gret all my exertions in this cause, and would still continue 
to do all in my power, if no other result should be obtained. 

If it is said, that faults exist in the constitution, or at least 
in the management of these societies ; I grant the fact the 
more willingly, as I draw from it one of the strong proofs in 
their favour. For as neither these defects nor the great bene- 
fits of the societies can reasonably be denied, and as the 
first may be very easily remedied, it follows that our societies 
would greatly augment in their usefulness. I appeal to the 
people of the United States at large, and ask them what 
would be their condition, if before the adoption of this consti- 
tution, which has so rapidly elevated this country to its pres- 
ent state of glorious independence and prosperity, the defects 
of the old system had led them into disgust and discourage- 
ment ? 



12 

To ascertain positively whether the benefits I had remarked, 
as well as those I have met with, either at home or in my 
travels, had extended generally throughout the state, and even 
out of its boundaries, I addressed several questions to differ- 
ent persons in and out of the state. 

You will see, in the answers of which I shall quote ex- 
tracts, that the opinion of these respectable gentlemen, is 
unanimous upon the most important points. All agree in 
saying that the agricultural societies have promoted excite- 
ment and emulation, to the great benefit of the community 
at large. Let us analyze and examine these different state- 
ments and opinions so as to enable us to form and adopt one 
of our own. 

We will first notice a declaration which requires our full 
confidence and assent, when we consider it is pronounced 
by the distinguished statesman, who received and deserved' 
the greatest proof of confidence and regard from these United 
States.* He considers the advancement of agriculture as 
the primary object " of national prosperity." You will no 
doubt regret as much as I do the circumstances which pre- 
vented him from answering more fully my several: inquiries 
relative to the agricultural societies in Virginia ; his letter, 
however, shows that in that state they have had generally a 
valuable effect, in exciting attention and emulation on sub- 
jects of rural economy, and in circulating instruction on them. 

The state of Pennsylvania having more analogy with ours, 
by its climate and productions, you will be more struck by 
what can be told to you of the results of the institutions of 
their agricultural societies, and you will feel more the whole 
extent of the respect we owe to the assertions of the late 
president of the Philadelphia society for promoting agricul- 
ture,f when I observe to you, that it is the first institution of 
the kind in the United States. He wrote : " the visible 
marks of emulation and improvement appear in every quar- 
ter of our country. They are in their nature progressive 
and do not appear like the fancied works of magic. In our 
state (our parent society excepted) agricultural associations 

* James Madison, f Judge Peters. 



13 

11 have but recently been formed, but the prospects are highly 
" encouraging." Had he not been prevented by his modesty, 
he could have quoted one single fact which alone must stamp 
upon all such institutions in the United States, the character 
of great usefulness. I mean the introduction by him of the 
use of gypsum into this country. Before it was brought into 
use, I had witnessed in travelling from New- York to Philadel- 
phia, the deplorable sterility of the land almost on all sides, 
and in penetrating into the most settled parts of the two states, 
I had been constantly lamenting the wretched condition to 
which generally such a fine country had been reduced by an 
improvident way of tilling the earth, which had quite ex- 
hausted the primitive soil. The inhabitants could see no oth- 
er way to avoid the fast approaching misery, than to emiorate 
with their increasing families to a remote wilderness ; when 
gypsum was introduced among them, (I might say forced, 
which would convey a more correct idea of the manner it 
found its way among the farmers ;) it soon became generally 
adopted in the states of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey ; and 
.operated like a miracle— Emigration ceased. 

The exhausted fields, and the barren hills a soon converted 
into fine meadows or rich fields of grain, gave courage to 
the farmer, and changed entirely his deplorable fate into a 
most desirable one. Instead of a vain attempt to describe the 
effects I witnessed of such a wonderful change, let me repeat 
here some of the expressions which an eloquent orator made 
use of when he was speaking upon that [subject, to a respec- 
table and numerous audience at which I was present in Phi- 
ladelphia. 

" Spacious and substantial barns were provided for these 
abundant products and increasing stocks, and dwelling hous- 
es abounding in every convenience, soon followed." 

" With this new order of improvements, a new race of peo- 
ple seemed to spring up, for hope and animation had suc- 
ceeded to general despondence." 

" I do not envy that man who can survey such a scene 
without emotion." 

" I hold that patriotism cheap which would swell at the 



14 

recollection of a bloody triumph, and slumber over an al- 
most new creation, fwhich redeems] a people from despair, 
and spreads smiling plenty over the land." 

But, gentlemen, it was not without a great deal of difficulty 
to encounter, and constant exertions to destroy deeply rooted 
prejudices, that the society of Philadelphia caused this won- 
derful melioration in the fortune and comfort of the people. 
Its members encouraged by the example of their worthy presi- 
dent, who was the first promoter of the measure, had not only 
to make repeated experiments, whose results they were giv- 
ing to the public, but yet to offer generous rewards to those 
who would repeat them in their fields. 

It was very soon afterwards that Chancellor Livingston, in 
his constant and most successful zeal for the good of his coun- 
try, and while he was president of the first agricultural socie- 
ty of this state, introduced and encouraged the use of gypsum ; 
and I have the most respectable authority for saying, that all 
those who made a proper use of it on their lands, reaped an 
immense benefit. It is not practicable to calculate strictly the 
increase in produce and in value of lands throughout the Unit- 
ed States, caused by the use of gypsum ; but if we attempt 
an estimate from such facts as the above, we are convinced 
of the immensity of the sum, though we may not approximate 
its amount. 

The letters of the eloquent president of the Berkshire agri- 
cultural society,* will probably make a still deeper impres- 
sion upon your minds than the others ; as the state of Massa- 
chusetts is still nearer, and as the societies to which he al- 
ludes, having been instituted so much earlier than those of 
this state, have had a sufficient time to be tested by the re- 
sults of repeated experiments. Let us notice only some of 
those results. " Improvements in agricultural implements, 
in all animals, in the selection of seed, excitement among 
all description of citizens, incalculable meansof enjoyments 
and comforts from the extension of household manufactures. 
The resources of the country have been increased at least 



The late Thomas Gould, of Pittsfield. 



15 

50 per cent. The tillage products have augmented equally, 
The legal process diminished of one half. Money placed 
more in the reach of common people — undertakings in manu- 
factories enabled to be commenced and prosecuted success- 
fully — a far wider field opened for female labor and enter- 
prize — the pursuit of agriculture considered as the most 
permanent object of regard and general confidence. At no 
period have useful knowledge and good morals so much dis- 
tinguished the age. Lastly, the great secret of making a 
nation distinguished, which is to adopt that system which 
will call into action the greatest quantity of industry, and 
give it the ]most beneficial direction, is now in successful 
operation." 

You will observe, that the multiplied advantages resulting 
from the agricultural societies in that state, are so extensive, 
and rapidly increasing, that their legislature has bestowed 
upon them the most evident marks of their disposition to en- 
courage them by generous grants for many years passed, and 
which they still continue. They give within a certain sum to 
each county as much as is subscribed within the same, and the 
county of Berkshire is in this way enabled to spend $1200 an- 
nually. This is not the offspring of a momentary enthusiasm 
— the measure is not dictated by the simple desire of making 
an experiment upon contemplated, but doubtful advantages, 
for the welfare of the people — nay, gentlemen, these impor- 
tant institutions are adopted by a reflecting, economical, and 
most judicious part of the people of these United States, after 
a steady trial of several years, and a scrutinous examination 
of the merits and demerits of these institutions. But this is 
not all they will do for the encouragement of agriculture. 
You will soon see them, not only encouraging the establish- 
ment of pattern farms, but yet, considering that agriculture is 
a science as well as an art, its principles will be taught in 
many of their most frequented schools ; and it may become, 
as it ought to be, the leading trait in the education of youth. 
I am not less confident in the good sense and intelligent mind 
of the people of this, our state, and I trust we will not be 
long behind our neighbours in the most patriotic and advan- 



16 

lageous institutions for the promotion of agriculture and do- 
mestic manufactures. 

Now, gentlemen, if we have reference to the information 
contained in the letters relative to our state, we find in all 
except one, (which we must notice also hereafter) a firm 
opinion that these agricultural societies have been of great ad- 
vantage. 

It is stated in the letter of George Huntington, then presi- 
dent of the Oneida county agricultural society, that tC the ex- 
citement has contributed to improve the condition of the peo- 
ple, but not to the extent desired. The products of domestic 
manufactures are much improved in quality and quantity." 

Elisha Powell, president of the Saratoga county agricul- 
tural society says, " the agriculture of the county has experi- 
enced a very great improvement since the formation of the 
society, both by its partisans and opposers. The quality of 
produce has been increased double. The emulation excited, 
has been of great service, both as respects agriculture and 
domestic manufactures. The ladies have in a particular man- 
ner displayed a very laudable ambition. A goodly number 
entertain ardent wishes, that this system adopted and prose- 
cuted with so much advantage to the great interest of this 
state, should not be abandoned. The employment of hus- 
bandry has certainly become more honorable than it was for- 
merly considered to be : almost every professional gentleman 
is making many experiments in farming." 

G. W. Featherstonhaugh, of Duanesburgh, president of the 
Schenectady county society, writes : " our laws for the pro- 
motion of agriculture have by dint of emulation and direct 
patronage carried the art much beyond the point which natur- 
al and unassisted progress would have reached, so that na- 
tional wealth has been positively increased by the establish- 
ment of agricultural societies. In this county, it has already 
produced admirable results in the arrangement of farms, &c. 
&c. Valuable animals have been spread through the neigh- 
borhood. The patronage of the state has given respectability 
to agriculture as a vocation." 

u The agricultural societies have been productive of great 



17 

good, as is better evinced— in more thoroughly ploughing and 
subduing the soil ; in more liberally manuring and carefully 
saving manures ; in a more judicious selection and best em- 
ploy of seeds ; by getting improved agricultural implements; 
by greater attention to the breed of domestic animals ; bv 
greater neatness in clearing, draining, fencing and seeding the 
farms ; by greater improvements in fattening animals ; the 
great augmentation of crops ; the increase of roots ; the vast 
diminution of ardent spirits consumed by labouring men: and 
lastly, the improvements in domestic manufactures of cloth or 
other dress." 

If we turn to the letter of Uri Tracy, then president of the 
Chenango county agricultural society, we find that " agricul- 
tural societies have been useful to the community. The im- 
provements in agriculture have advanced more in a few years, 
than they would have done in half a century .without the in- 
fluence of these societies. The effects have not been confined 
to the members, but even to the opposers of the societies. 
The visible marks of usefulness generally are the improved 
state of farms as to cultivation, fences, orchards, buildings, 
adaptation of crops to their proper use, improved breeds of 
horses, horned cattle, sheep and hogs. Domestic manufac- 
tures have improved in the same degree. The agricultural 
class have had their views enlarged, their prejudices removed, 
their resources displayed, and they feel their importance. " 

The testimonies which I produce here to carry that convic- 
tion into your minds, to animate our hopes and stimulate our 
efforts, are worthy your entire confidence. I addressed my 
letters to persons whose opinions on the subject were general- 
ly unknown to me ; yet there is but one of those who answer- 
ed my questions, who is not in harmony with the rest.* " Upon 
the whole (he thinks) that agricultural societies ought to be 
given up, and manufacturing societies substituted, or their 
object changed to that of the introduction of a competent 
manufacturing population." 

To accomplish this, gentlemen, which we will consider as 
being the great desideratum of the warmest friends of the 

* George Tibbets, of Troy. 



18 

manufacturing interest, we have no need to change our ob- 
ject. Nothing can attain it sooner and more effectually than 
by a faithful adherence to, and an energetic display of the 
principles of our societies. We all agree, that, to that end, 
some of our practices must be altered and improved. Our 
intentions are already and repeatedly manifested by our deeds, 
and we have confounded the interests of the agriculturalist 
with those of the manufacturer. Besides you cannot encour- 
age one without promoting the other. Look to England, that 
great manufacturing country, you will see that the extraordi- 
nary extension and improvements in their manufactures, and 
the unexpected increase in their population, began with the 
encouragements of all kinds given about 30 years ago to their 
agriculture. Look to France — a most cruel civil war, and a 
war with all Europe, combined their devastations to destroy 
more than a million of its inhabitants. But agriculture is en- 
couraged — abundance follows. Their manufactures flourish 
to a degree never known before in that country. 

Suppose that in a county the land, being badly cultivated, 
could not offer a sufficient supply of either vegetable or animal 
food to the manufacturers and their cattle, by the bad man- 
•agement or ill conduct of the farmers ; the provisions of eve- 
ry kind would be a great deal higher than in other parts of 
the country. Suppose the population decreasing — the morals 
and habits of the inhabitants deteriorating — in a word, gener- 
al misery prevailing on all sides, do you think the manufac- 
turing interests would be there encouraged ? Nay, in the in- 
terior of the families, the children would follow the example 
of their parents — the loom would be as much neglected as the 
-plough ; idleness, mother of all vice, would daily extend its 
pernicious empire. Is it among such a tribe that the manu- 
facturer will go and make his recruits? It will not do — me 
speaks of work. They turn their backs to him ; they will 
soon turn them to the land of their fathers, and to their credi- 
tors, or to those who are meditating and preaching a reform. 
I will be told that the manufacturer will call to his aid arti- 
zans from other parts. His money no doubt will attract 
them, and his money will maintain them. But how long will 



19 

he be able to keep his workmen ; how long will he be able to 
sustain the competition with other manufacturers not laboring 
under similar disadvantages? He must renounce his fabrics, 
or be ruined. 

Let us fix our attention upon an order of things quite dif- 
ferent, and the better to illustrate the advantages of agricul- 
tural societies, let us choose for the contrast, the county where 
there has been one in constant operation for 14 years — and in 
fact the only county in the state where there is one agri- 
cultural society. There you have a number of spacious hous^ 
es of public worship, a great many school houses, a sufficient 
number of saw and grist-mills, stores in every direction, well 
supplied, good roads, and in a word, most of the advantages 
of an old settled country, and chiefly, the most important, a 
good set of inhabitants, increasing daily not only in number 
but in morality and good habits. We have been also improv- 
ing in our agricultural and manufacturing pursuits, although 
we hwe yet considerable to do, chiefly in the first. 

But suppose, gentlemen, that we pursue with constancy 
and energy the same measures which we have seen so suc- 
cessfully followed in our neighbouring state — is it not evi- 
dent that we will attain the same results ? How much greater 
however, when combined with our natural advantages and 
the cheapness of our land ! How happy then will be the fate 
of our farmers and other inhabitants ! The farmer will be able 
to insure not only the existence, but the welfare and happiness 
of his whole family about him. Those to whom he cannot 
give a lot of land, or who have a preference for manufactur- 
ing, he will be able to employ at home, having enough to buy 
all the needful implements. There, in the bosom of their fam- 
ilies, with good examples before them, they will become sub- 
stantial and steady manufacturers. They will get attached to 
the part of the country where they will find health, plenty 
and happiness in the midst of their friends. There the great 
manufacturer will find not only an abundant and cheap supply 
of the necessaries of life, and the greatest part of the mate- 
rials he needs for his fabric, but also the hands he wants to 
work them, hands vastly preferable on all accounts to Iran- 



20 

slent and inconstant foreigners. Thence the perfect alliance 
of the farmer and the manufacturer, supporting one another 
and rising rapidly to a prosperity which would be the more 
undisturbed as it would not be founded upon the varying and 
unsteady support of distant consumers. Is not that the sur- 
est, nay, the only way, which can be depended on with any 
degree of certainty to "ensure a competent manufacturing 
population." 

As I am particularly desired to allude here to the results pro- 
duced by our agricultural society in Jefferson county, I must 
state farther. The benefits of our institution are evident even 
to the most superficial observer, and the indifferent themselves 
(as to enemies I am not aware that we have any) do not pre- 
tend to deny them in their own justification. We find that spir- 
it and emulation which are necessary to succeed in any thing, 
excited by the distinction attendant upon our notice ; without 
referring to more ordinary improvements in our cultivation, 
our stock, &c. new branches of industry, recommended at 
our meetings, have been introduced. Mulberry trees have 
been planted and multiplied ; cocoons raised, and a beautiful 
specimen of sewing silk raised and spun in the family of one 
of our farmers, exhibited at our last anniversary ;* and a va- 
riety of grapes have been introduced, both native and for- 
eign, including the choicest of the latter, which ripen per- 
fectly in the open air without a wall.f 

* The thrifty appearance of several young nurseries of the white mulberry, 
which furnishes the food for the silk-worm, shows that the tree may be cultivated 
among us, without difficulty ; and a successful experiment this season, by the pre- 
sident of the society, in rearing the worm, removes the only doubt that the busi- 
ness mav be made a source of profit to every man,who has room for a few mulberry 
trees. The cocoons produced in the United States, have been pronounced superi- 
or to those of Europe, and those produced by Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont are believ- 
ed to be equal to any in the country. Major Kirby's Address, 1831. 

4 The adaptation of our soil and climate to the production of the grape, is now 
•placed beyond a doubt, by the uniform success which has attended the culture of 
numerous native and foreign varieties, in almost every kind of soil and exposition, 
in all parts of the county : as well of the foreign varieties, introduced from the 
nurseries at Albany and New-York, as of those imported directly from France, 
and distributed gratuitously among the members of the society. Of these last, a 
yine, the mezmier, in Major Brown's garden in Brownville, a cutting four year's 
ago, produced two hundred fine clusters last year, and more than three hundred 
ghis season. Major Kirby's Address^ 1831. 



21 

It is well known and acknowledged out of our county, 
that our breed of neat cattle and horses enjoy a distinguished 
reputation. In proof of the direct and general influence of 
our society upon the county, I might appeal to one of the 
most respectable inhabitants of our neighborhood, in Lewis 
county,* now present, who travelled last summer through the 
greater part of the west of this state. While admiring the 
beauty, the richness, and the wonderful increase of this in- 
teresting portion of New-York, he was struck with the differ- 
ence of improvement in agriculture in that country and in 
Jefferson county : so much was it to the advantage of the lat- 
ter. I asked this same gentleman, who is agent for large 
tracts of land in Jefferson and Lewis counties, whether the 
benefits of our society had been felt by the farmers generally. 
His pithy answer speaks volumes — " Undoubtedly, (said he) 
my books show it." 

The benefits conferred upon our county by our society are 
the more apparent, as the support of the state was taken from 
us when a severe discouragement had been brought on by 
many causes, which it would be superfluous here to detail, 
but which may be briefly resumed in referring to the success- 
ful prosecution of the canal system, and the navigation of the 
Mississippi and its tributaries, by steam, which took away 
from us the current of emigration — the reduction in price of 
the public lands — the great fall in the price of produce, more 
felt by us from our comparatively secluded position, after hav- 
ing for so many years enjoyed pre-eminence on account of our 
facilities over other parts for exportations. It was then at an 
unfavorable moment that we took the bold resolution to con- 
tinue our society as we began it, without the assistance of 
the state ; and it is chiefly through difficult times that we have 
improved our county and brought it to that enviable rank 
which it now holds among the counties of this great state. 

To show in part what condition is ours now, look at this 
extract from the last address delivered before the society, by 
our distinguished member, Major Kirby. " It is about thirty 
years since the first inroads of cultivation were made upon 

* Isaac W. Bostwick, of Lowville. 



22 

the solitudes of the forest, and we have advanced to a po- 
pulation of fifty thousand souls. We already begin to en- 
joy the benefit of a home market from the various manu- 
facturing establishments and flourishing villages which are 
springing up in every part of the county. Many of our 
public edifices and private dwellings are constructed of the 
most durable materials, and in a style to do credit to a coun- 
try older and more advanced in the arts and in wealth. — 
The neat stone farm-houses with which the country is stud- 
ded at every point, impart an air of solid comfort, not sur- 
passed in what have been regarded, as the more favored re- 
gions of our land. Especially, it is believed, that the ex- 
ports from the county of Jefferson, of the products of her 
own soil, are greater than those from any other county in 
the state. Other districts are distinguished for some leading 
staple, to the production of which, the farmer bends every 
eifort. We happily combine, in a remarkable manner, the 
products of tillage with those of grazing, and send to mar- 
ket a large surplus of live stock as well as of grain." 

But, gentlemen, I am afraid that I lay myself open to the 
reproach of ingratitude, while addressing you as the organ of 
the only surviving agricultural society in the state, by seeking 
in circumstances foreign to this very meeting, proofs of our 
usefulness and of our success. Can we, in fact, shut our 
ears and our eyes to what is said and written in different sec- 
tions of the state ? Has not the existence of our society been 
quoted as a proof of the practicability of establishing others, 
and its success held out as an encouragement ? You will, I 
hope, pardon an honest feeling when we say, that the favor- 
able opinion which has so generally manifested itself, makes 
each one of us proud of being an inhabitant of Jefferson coun- 

If I am asked to what causes we owe the continuance of 
our society, I will mention two leading ones — the first of 
which, is applicable to all the counties in the state. We have 
carefully excluded politics and party feelings from every thing 
connected with our proceedings. " The plough is of no 
party," is our motto. I believe that a less persevering ad- 



23 

herence to this rule has been one of the causes of the failure 
of many of the former societies, and I am persuaded that 
without it no society can long or profitably subsist. 

The second cause I have alluded to, is not likely to exist 
in many of the counties. There are in ours, several large 
landholders, both resident and not, who have taken a liberal 
and enlarged view of the benefits conferred upon their proper- 
ty by our society, and who have contributed the greater part 
of our funds. We have never entertained in Jefferson coun- 
ty the idea of continuing our society without premiums, and 
the first enquiry made yearly at our meeting was, can we 
again procure the necessary funds ? 

There are other causes which brought on the fall of our 
agricultural societies. The principal, in my opinion, has been 
their financial organization and their mode of distributing 
premiums. To be entitled to the bounty of the state, and to 
form a society in a county, it being necessary to have in that 
county a sum subscribed at least equal to the amount of what 
the state allowed — a number of individuals subscribed ; asd 
then the society consisted only of those very individuals who 
afterwards made their bye-laws and named their officers. The 
premium was agreed to and fixed by them — and most unfortu- 
nately, entirely consecrated to the members of the society ! 
It is certainly not necessary to insist upon the evil of this prac- 
tice, nor to say that alone it was ample and sufficient cause of 
tinpopiilarity. We soon perceived this, and after trying some 
partial remedies, we attacked the evil at the root, by opening 
the field of competition to every inhabitant of the county, and 
allowing premiums to all, whether contributors or not, on the 
same terms ; and we have continued this course after our un- 
assisted efforts had given us a perfect right to do otherwise. — 
The liberality of the society has even gone farther this year. 
Having been struck with the rare qualifications of a lot -of 
cattle which was brought to our fair by an industrious farmer 
of a neighboring county, a premium, equal to the highest giv- 
en that day, was voted and presented to him. 

Our premiums are not limited to agriculture, but are 'em- 
ployed pretty extensively to the encouragement of household 



24 

arts and manufactures. We mean to extend them to horticul- 
ture when our means will allow it. Meanwhile we have giv- 
en to the successful horticulturalist diplomas of honorable 
testimonials. It is useless to state here the other improve- 
ments which are to be recommended in the formation and in 
the bye-laws of the agricultural societies. They will find their 
place better in the correspondence of the state society with 
the committees of the different counties, after more mature 
consideration. 

Here I am asked whether in recommending so earnestly the 
formation of state and county agricultural societies, I have 
in contemplation in their behalf and for promoting their spee- 
dy and effectual organization, immediate pecuniary assistance 
from the legislature of the state. I answer promptly — 
no — though I am persuaded that no money could be more 
judiciously employed, and that none would produce a great- 
er benefit to the state. I consider that the organization of 
the late agricultural societies had not taken hold of the sym- 
pathies of the people. The idea that the sum given by 
the state was taken from the many for the benefit of a few, 
is still too- deeply rooted in their minds. Under those impres- 
sions, if the legislature granted any thing, it would probably 
be such a boon, as would, under more favorable circumstan- 
ces, appear unworthy of this great community, and would at 
all events, be totally inadequate to the objects in view. It is 
much better to begin by laying a new and solid foundation for 
the whole system. A state society will, by its influence and 
advice, promote the formation of county societies wherever the 
sacred fire may be rekindled by zealous individuals : corres- 
ponding committees formed in every county will send to a 
common focus all the information they may gather, whence af- 
ter being digested and arranged, it will return to the counties 
and spread correct and useful documents throughout the state. 
I fondly hope that a manifestation of feeling favorable to the 
first and greatest interest of the people of this state, will be 
exhibited in the course of the year, and that next winter an 
application for support, far from being looked on with indiffer- 
ence by the farmers of the state, will be hailed and supported 



25 

with general approbation. An enlightened legislature, en- 
couraged by the support of its constituents, will see that all that 
is wanted in this fertile state, in order to have nothing to envy 
its immediate neighbours of the south and east is, that the peo- 
ple be true to themselves — and, as in the cause of internal 
improvements, when we did enter the lists, we at once out-run 
our sister states ; so in this, the first, the noblest cause of such 
a people as ours, we will take our rank and walk in front. 

I will conclude, gentlemen, by adverting in a few words to 
the most important effect which any institution can have, 
namely, to improve the moral and religious condition of the 
people. Although I do not mean to attribute entirely these 
great improvements to our agricultural pursuits, yet I hope I 
am not too sanguine in the belief, that a proper attention to 
them is of all others the best calculated to elevate man to a 
due sense of his duty to the Divinity. Other studies and oc- 
cupations may, and often do, meliorate man's understanding 
and improve him in the first of all knowledge — not so much, as 
has been said, of himself, but of his Creator. But there are 
not many who, after having once gone beyond the simple and 
touching testimonies which present themselves to the unculti- 
vated mind, and advanced some steps in the boundless field of 
knowledge, do not get dazzled at the light of their own gen- 
ius, and intoxicated with their own glory. They think, be- 
cause they have discovered many, and again many links of 
the vast chain which binds the phenomena of nature, they will 
arrive at the first great link, the suspending point, without 
finding there the finger of the Almighty ! While one philoso- 
pher of antiquity had almost guessed the truths which a hea- 
venly Redeemer was to announce to us, we find hundreds and 
thousands spending their lives in sleepless nights and thought- 
ful days, without becoming wiser in the eyes of God : and in 
our days of Christian knowledge, we see that while a New- 
ton, looking far and deep into the great mysteries of nature, 
acknowledges every where the presence of an Almighty God, 
and the truth of his religion ; many philosophers have endea- 
voured by their researches and their reasonings to destroy our 
belief in those sacred writings, against which, however, ho 

4 



26 

efforts can prevail. The study and the pursuit of agricul- 
ture on the contrary, brings us in constant relation with the 
Maker of all things, and in continual admiration of his works, 
without exposing us to the dangers accompanying more eleva- 
ted sciences. The farmer sees in his occupation that of the first 
man and his successors. He finds it always the most esteem- 
ed, as he reads in those beautiful parables which abound in 
scripture illustrations almost always drawn from it. He feels, 
on reflection, that no other profession is so dependent for its 
success upon the favours of Heaven ; and while it will give 
him humility to sustain its wrath, and courage and persever- 
ance to avert it, it will inspire him with gratitude for its nu- 
merous and unmerited blessings. 

The President having concluded his address, 

On motion of the Rev. Dr. Willson, of Albany, 
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered 
to the President for the address just delivered. 
On motion of Mr. Schuyler, of Saratoga, 
Resolved, That a committee of publication be appointed, 
and that they be directed to have 500 copies of the address 
of the hon. the President published, for distribution among 
the members of this Convention. 

On motion of Mr. Spencer, of Albany, 
Resolved, That a committee of fifteen be appointed, to pre- 
pare and report to this Convention, a constitution for a 
State Agricultural Society. 

In pursuance of said resolution, the President named the 
following gentlemen to compose said committee : 
Edward P. Livingston, Francis Granger, 

Henry W. Delavan, Eli Savage, 

H. Hickock, Philip Church, ' 

Parley Keyes, H. G. SpafTord, 

S. Fleet, P. S. Smith, 

E. Kirby, Levi Beardsley, 

V. Le Ray de Chaumont, S. G. Andrews. 



27 

On motion of Mr. Bronson, 

Resolved, That the President and Secretaries be added to 
the preceding committee. 

The Convention then adjourned till 4 o'clock to-morrow 
afternoon. 

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 4P. M. 

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 

Mr. Livingston, from the committee appointed for the pur- 
pose, reported the draft of a constitution ; which having been 
read by sections, and amended, was adopted by a unanimous 
vote of the Convention, and is as follows : 

CONSTITUTION. 

The style of this Society shall be, " The New-York State 
Agricultural Society" — its objects shall be to improve the con- 
dition of Agriculture, Horticulture and the Household Arts. 

Sect. I. The Society shall consist of such citizens of the 
state as shall signify in writing their wish to become members, 
and shall pay on subscribing, not less than one dollar ; and an- 
nually thereafter not less than two dollars, and also of honora- 
ry and corresponding members. The Presidents of County 
Agricultural Societies, or a Delegate from each, shall ex-officio 
be members of this Society. 

Sect. II. The officers of the Society shall consist of a 
President, four Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Coi- 
responding Secretary, a Treasurer ; an Executive Committee, 
to consist of the officers above named and three other mem- 
bers, of whom three shall constitute a quorum ; and a General 
Committee, the members of which shall be located in the sever- 
al counties, and be equ3^ to the representatives in the House 
of Assembly. The payment of fifty dollars or more, shall con- 
stitute a member for life, and shall exempt the donor from an- 
nual contributions. 

Sect. III. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes 
of the Society. The Corresponding Secretary shall carry on 



28 

a correspondence with other Societies, with individuals, and 
with the General Committee in furtherance of the objects of 
the Society, The Treasurer shall keep the funds of the So- 
ciety, and disburse them on the order of the President or a 
Vice President, countersigned by the Recording Secretary ; 
and shall make a report of the receipts and expenditures at 
the annual meeting in February. The Executive Committee 
shall take charge of, and distribute or preserve all seeds, 
plants, books, models, he. which may be transmitted to the 
Society ; and shall also have the charge of all communications, 
designed or calculated for publication, and so far as they may 
deem expedient, shall collate, arrange and publish the same in 
such manner and form as they shall deem best calculated to 
promote the objects of the Society. The General Committee 
are charged with the interests of the Society in the counties in 
which they shall respectively reside, and will constitute a me- 
dium of communication between the Executive Committee and 
the remote members of the Society. 

Sect, IV. There shall be an annual meeting of the So- 
ciety on the Thursday following the second Tuesday of Febru- 
ary, at the capitol in the city of Albany, at which time all the 
officers shall be elected, by a plurality of votes, and by ballot. 
Extra meetings may be convoked by the Executive Committee. 
Fifteen members shall be a quorum for the transaction of busi- 
ness. 

Sect. V. This constitution may be amended by a vote of 
two thirds of the members attending any annual meeting. 

On motion of Mr. Buel, of Albany, 
Resolved, That a committee of one from each senatorial 
district, be appointed to present to this Convention the names 
of suitable persons to fill the several offices provided for by 
this constitution. 

Thereupon the following gentlemen were appointed : 
James B. Murray, of the 1st district. 
Jacob I. Waldron, 2d do. 



29 



Horatio Hickock, 


3d 


do. 


Henry W. Delavan, 


4th 


do. 


Orville Hungerford, 


5th 


do. 


Gilbert Cone, 


6th 


do. 


Francis Granger, 


7th 


do. 


S. G. Andrews, 


8th 


do. 



The Convention then adjourned to 4 o'clock to-morrow af- 
ternoon. 

Thursday , February 16. 

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 

Mr. Granger from the committee appointed to recommend 
suitable persons to fill the offices designated by the constitu- 
tion, made a report. 

Whereupon the Convention proceeded to elect by ballot the 
officers of the Society — Messrs. Delavan and Nicholas were 
appointed tellers. 

On counting the ballots, it appeared that the following gen- 
tlemen were elected by a plurality of votes, viz. 

LE RAY DE CHAUMONT, of Jefferson, President. 

Edward P. Livingston, of Columbia, 

Ambrose Spencer, of Albany, 

Jacob Morris, of Otsego, and 

Robert S. Rose, of Seneca, 

Philip S. Van Rensselaer, of Albany, Rec. Secretary. 

Jesse Buel, of Albany, Corresponding Secretary. 

Charles R. Webster, of Albany, Treasurer. 

Henry W. Delavan, of Saratoga, ] ^ J . „ 

TT TT ' , Executive Committee. 

Horatio Hickock, of Rensselaer, } (in conjunction with the fore. 

John Townsend, of Albany, %°' m s office »-) 

The following gentlemen were appointed a General Com- 
mittee, viz. 

Albany— Henry W. Snyder, William N. Sill, Rufus Watson. 
Allegany — Philip Church. 
Broome — Virgil Whitney. 
Cattaraugus — Staley N. Clark. 



Vice Presidents. 



30 

Cayuga — Joseph L. Richardson, Elias Manchester, David Tho- 
mas, Nathaniel Garrow. 

Chautauque — Squier White, James Mullet. 

Chenango — Thompson Mead, Uri Tracy, John Latham. 

Clinton — Josiah Fisk. 

Columbia — John P. Beekman, Wm. B. Ludlow,Wm. H. Wilson. 

Cortland — Samuel G. Hathaway, Jesse Ives. 

Delaware — Jabez Bostwick, Martin Keeler. 

Dutchess — David Hosack, William Davis, James Grant, Isaac 
R. Adriance. 

Erie — Peter B. Porter. 

Essex — Henry H. Ross. 

Franklin — Luther B radish. 

Genessee — Martin O. Coe, Sheubal Dunham, Horace Healy. 

Greene — Anthony I. Van Bergen, Apollos Cook. 

Herkimer— r William C. Grain, Frederick P. Bellinger, Daniel 
C. Henderson. 

Jefferson — Vincent Le Ray de Chaumont, Edmund Kirby, Eg- 
bert Ten Eyck. 

Kings — Joseph Canselyea. 

Lewis — Isaac W. Bostwick. 

Genessee — James S. Wadsworth, Charles H. Carroll. 

Madison — Matthew Pratt, Joseph Bruce, Sylvester Buelur. 

Munro — Isaac Moore, William Garbut, James Sperry. 

Montgomery — Stephen Reynolds, Archibald M'lntyre, Samuel 
Jackson. 

New-York — Charles H. Hall, Anthony Dey, William Wilson, 
Jacobus Dyckman, Thomas Hogg, Abraham Bell, Charles Oak- 
ley, Gideon Lee, Alpheus Sherman, William Shaw, James B. 
Murray. 

Niagara — Benjamin Barton. 

Oneida — George Brayton, Eli Savage, Gardner Avery, Israel 
Stoddard, Ephraim Perkins, 

Onondaga — David Monro, John C. Brown, James Geddes, 
Dan Bradley. 

Ontario — Robert C. Nicholas, Thaddeus Chapin, Moses Fair- 
child. 

Orange — George D. Wickham, Jacob S. Waldron, Samuel S. 
Seward. 



31 

Orleans — Abraham Cantine. 

Oswego — William M. Cheever. 

Otsego — Abraham Roseboom, Arunah Metcalf, Pascal Fran- 
chot, Isaac Hays. 

Putnam- 
Queens — John A. King. 

Rensselaer— Richard P. Hart, Alexander Walsh, Abraham 
Knickebacker, Henry D. Groove. 

Richmond — Richard Crocheron. 

Rockland — Cornelius I. Blauvelt. 

St. Lawrence — William Bacon, Theodosus O. Fowler. 

Saratoga — Earl Stimson, Philip Schuyler, John A. Steele. 

Schenectady — William A. S. North. 

Schoharie — William C. Bouck, William Deitz. 

Seneca — Tompkins Delavan, Erastus Woodworm. 

Steuben — Andrew P. Dickinson, William Kernam. 

Suffolk— Se\ah B. Strong, Nicoll Floyd. 

Sullivan — William Gillespie. 

Tioga — David Williams, Caleb Baker. 

Tompkins — Nicoll Halsey, Charles H. Monell, Benjamin Jen- 
nings. 

Ulster — Levi Hasbrouck, Jacobus Hardenbergh. 

Warren — William M'Donald. 

Washington— John M'Donald, Isaac Bishop, Tho's. N. Clark. 

Wayne — George Barrel 1, Myron Holley. 

Westchester— William Jay, Peter V. B. Livingston, Philemon 
Halsted. 

Yates — Richard H. Williams. 
On motion of Mr. Buel, 

Resolved, That the executive committee be authorized to 
fill existing vacancies in the general committee ; and also 
such vacancies as may hereafter occur by reason of death, re- 
moval, or refusal to serve. 
On motion, 

Resolved, That Henry W. Delavan, Jesse Buel, Horatio 
Hickock, Amos Eaton and William A. S. North, be a com- 
mittee to draw up a plan for an agricultural school, or schools, 



32 

to embrace experimental and practical farming^together with 
an estimate of the expense necessary to establish and put the 
same into operation ; and that the said committee report at 
the next annual meeting of the society, together with their 
views of the utility of such establishments. 

Resolved, That VincentXe Ray de'Chaumont, Eli Savage, 
Charles H. Hall, Peter S. Smith, George Clark and Jesse 
Buel, be a committee, to reporfat the next meeting of the so- 
ciety, on the practicability and utility of establishing annual 
fairs, for the purchase and sale of live stock, seeds, and other 
products of husbandry, and of household labor. 

On motion of Mr. Webster, and at the request of the con- 
vention, the hon. Ambrose Spencer made an interesting ad- 
dress, on the culture of silk in the United States. 

Mr. Smith, of Oswego, offered the following resolutions, 
which were adopted : 

Resolved, That the executive committee prepare and pub- 
lish such an article as they shall deem fit and proper, for the 
purpose of stimulating the farmers of this state to plant mul- 
berry trees, with a view to the culture of silk — this society 
considering it an object of the first importance, and believing 
that it holds out the prospect of rich rewards to those who 
shall embark in this patriotic measure. 

Resolved, That the executive committee procure and dis- 
tribute as extensively as may be in their power, seeds of the 
white mulberry, with instructions for sowing, raising and 
planting mulberry trees. 

Resolved, That the thanks of this society be presented to 
the hon. Ambrose Spencer, for the information by him pre- 
sented, on the silk culture ; and that he be requested to com- 
municate the same to the executive committee for publication. 

Resolved, That this society earnestly recommend to the 
consideration of the respective counties in this state, the or- 
ganization, at their earliest convenience, of county societies, 
for the promotion of agriculture, horticulture and the house- 
hold arts. And it is further recommended, that in the pri- 



33 

mary assemblies of the friends of agriculture, convened for 
the purposes of such organization, the expediency of petition- 
ing the legislature to pass a law, appropriating a portion of 
the funds of the state for the advancement of the above ob- 
jects, should be discussed, and their sentiments made pubis . 
through the medium of the press. 

On motion of Mr. Schuyler, of Saratoga, 

Resolved, That the executive committee procure the print- 
ing of 1000 copies of the President's address, and embrace 
in the same pamphlet the proceedings of the Convention, and 
the constitution and proceedings of this Society. 
On motion of Mr. SpafTord, of Rensselaer, 

Resolved, That the friends of improvement in agriculture 
and horticulture, assembled in this society, view with appro- 
bation the efforts of the conductors of the " New- York Far- 
mer" and the " Genessee Farmer," whose example is ex- 
erting a salutary influence on the public mind. 
On motion of Mr. Waldron, of Orange, 

Resolved, That the executive committee be requested to 
take into consideration, the expediency of establishing a week- 
ly paper, under the patronage and direction of this society, to 
be published at an expense not exceeding one dollar per an- 
num, to be circulated among the farmers throughout the state. 

MR. SPENCER'S ADDRESS. 

GENTLEMEN, 

I comply most cheerfully with the request of the Con- 
vention* to submit to them all the information 1 have ac- 
quired, together with my own reflections, on the culture of 
silk in the United States. 

My attention was first drawn to this subject as chairman 
of the committee on agriculture of the House of Represen- 
tatives in the 2 1st Congress. 

Mr. Duponceau, of Philadelphia, an adopted citizen of 
the United States, a man distinguished as a jurist, as a 
scholar, as a philosopher, and as a patriot, called the audi- 



34 

tion of Congress to this subject by a letter to the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, which was referred to the com- 
mittee on agriculture. The committee, through their chair- 
man, opened a correspondence with Mr. Duponceau, and 
learnt from him that a Mr. D'Homergue was then in Phila- 
delphia ; that he had been brought to this country from 
France, on the application of a society in Philadelphia, 
through our then minister, Mr. Brown, to whom they had 
applied to engage a person competent to teach the art of 
reeling silk from cocoons and preparing raw silk for market. 
Mr. Brown, after diligent enquiry, and having satisfied 
himself that Mr. D'Homergue was in all respects, the most 
competent person he could find, induced him to proceed to 
America. Circumstances, not necessary to be detailed, but 
which if known reflect no discredit on Mr. D'Homergue,. 
produced a rupture between him and his employers. To 
keep so valuable a man in the country, Mr. Duponceau, 
with no other motive than to promote the public welfare, 
induced Mr. D'Homergue to remain here, until it could be 
ascertained whether Congress would not patronize and adopt 
a measure, which should gain to the United States, the 
knowledge of a most difficult and all-important art, the art 
of filature of silk. 

In the correspondence which took place between Mr. Du- 
ponceau and myself, ^several important facts were ascer- 
tained. 

1 st. That the soil of the United States was well adapted 
to the rearing of the white mulberry tree, on the foliage of 
which the silk worm is reared — and that although the pur- 
ple mulberry tree affords a foliage, from which silk can be 
made, yet it does not produce as good silk as the white — It 
was ascertained also, that the mulberry tree could be reared 
in every part of the United States. 

2d. That the specimens of raw silk which had been ser* 



35 

to France and England, after full experiments upon them 
had been pronounced of an excellent and superior quality. 
The cocoons yielding more silk than those of any other 
country — a silk of a superior texture and nerve. The caus- 
es of this are probably to be found in the vigorous growth 
of the mulberry tree and in our fine summer climate. 

3d. It was perfectly ascertained and established, that the 
art of filature or reeling of silk, was one of difficult acquire- 
ment ; indeed it may be affirmed, without the hazard of con- 
tradiction, that it cannot be learnt from theory, nor by the 
unaided efforts of any person however ingenious, and that 
it is to be acquired only by practical instruction from some 
competent person. When I say it cannot be learnt theoreti- 
cally, nor by any unaided efforts of the most ingenious, I 
mean that it cannot be well learnt, so as to produce silk of 
an even texture, and fit for a foreign market or domestic 
manufacture. 

To make fabrics of silk, it is necessary to pass it through 
a throwsting machine ; if the texture be uneven, it is liable 
to break, and this produces waste and an injury to the 
thread. It is therefore a test of good reeling as well as of 
good silk, to ascertain what per centage is lost in the reel- 
ing. 

Mr. Duponceau has stated in a letter, addressed to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, of the 9th of De- 
cember last, that of a sample that he sent to London in 1830, 
the manufacturer states, that in the various processes of 
throwing, dyeing and weaving, it only lost 3 5-8 per cent, 
whilst French and Italian silks lose from 4 to 10 per cent. 

To illustrate more fully the high importance of practical 
instruction in the art of reeling silk from the cocoons, let me 
advert to the culture of silk in the county of Windham, in 
Connecticut. For about seventy years, silk has been pro- 
duced in that region ; but it is sewing silk only ; whereas 
the sewing silk of France and Italy is made, either from im- 



36 

perfect cocoons, or refuse silk, in the process of throwing. 
What an immense loss these industrious and meritorious cul- 
tivators of silk, are subject to from want of a perfect knowl- 
edge of the art of filature ; and yet they find a rich reward 
for their labours, and pursue it with a perseverance and as- 
siduity highly commendable. If the cocoons produced in 
Connecticut could be converted into fabrics, instead of sew- 
ing silk, their profits would be nearly doubled. And if af- 
ter an experience of seventy years, they have acquired only 
imperfectly the art of reeling the silk from the cocoons, with 
all their ingenuity; how can we expect this art to be ac- 
quired without practical instruction ? 

During the 21st Congress, the committee on agriculture, 
considering the culture of silk a national object, of the first 
importance, under the impression that practical instruction 
in the art of filature and preparing silk for market, was in- 
dispensibly necessary ; reported a bill for the establishment 
of a normal school in Philadelphia, or its vicinity, under 
the general supervision of Mr. Duponceau, the pupils in 
which were to be taught for two or three seasons by Mr. D'- 
Homergue : at all events they were to be thoroughly in- 
structed in the art of filature and preparation of the silk for 
market. By the provisions of the bill, sixty pupils, to be 
taken from the several states in proportion to their popula- 
tion, were to be thus instructed : these pupils were to be 
young lads, not exceeding 18 years of age, having mechan- 
ical tendencies. Owing to untoward circumstances this bill, 
with every prospect of success, was not finally acted on. 

The able chairman of the committee on agriculture, Gen. 
Root, has reported the same bill at the present session of 
Congress, and I know {hat he regards it most favorably, 
and I cannot but hope that his efforts will be crowned with 
success. 

It is a fact, deduced from the treasury reports, that for 
several years past, there has been imported into the United 



87 

States, silk fabrics* nearly as great or of a greater value 
than all the bread stufls which have been exported* Let us 
pause upon this fact, and ask, whether if we are capable of 
producing silk of an equal or a superior quality > we are not 
neglecting, shamefully neglecting, the benefits, which a be- 
neficent Providence has furnished us , ? Whether it will not 
be a reproach upon our understandings and patriotism, to 
exchange the necessaries of life for a luxury of foreign 
production, which we can so easily produce ourselves , ? 

It costs scarcely nothing to plant the mulberry, it grows 
on any and every soil ; the foliage may be gathered and the 
worm may be fed and taken care of by women and children 
— so far from being a laborious undertaking, it is a pleasur- 
able one : it subtracts nothing from other agricultural la- 
bour — it interferes not with any of the business of the hus- 
bandman. The trees are an ornament to the farm, they may 
be planted as hedges, or as orchards. If the farmer has 
leaves to spare, he can dispense them to the poor in his 
neighborhood, and they can rear their worms, and thus 
hours now passed in idleness or play, can be devoted to the 
culture of silk. The hatching of the egg can be retarded 
or accelerated at pleasure to accommodate itself to the put- 
ting forth of the foliage. Six weeks complete the whole 
operation, from the hatching of the egg to the formation of 
the cocoon. 

The cocoon having been produced, a market for them is 
necessary, and it must be a domestic market, for they can- 
not be exported, their bulk, and their incapability of com- 
pression, without unfitting them for filature, forbids it. 

The fact at once occurs, that unless there be filatures, 
there will be no market for them. The young men to be 
taught in the proposed school, would under the promptings 
of their own interest, aided by patriotic citizens, establish 
these filatures in all the states, and would, in their turn, in- 
struct our females in this art. This would at once open mar- 



38 

kets for the cocoons, and they could afford to pay the price 
of 40 cents per pound, the price paid during the last season 
by Mr. Duponceau. 

Mr. Duponceau states, that some of the coarsest silk, reel- 
ed under the directions of Mr. D'Homergue, sold in Mexico 
for $4 75 a pound ; and it is believed, that generally, it 
will sell for $5 a pound. 

I have been furnished, from a source entitled to my full 
credence, with a statement of the clear profits of an acre of 
ground planted with mulberry trees, as orchards are usually 
planted, supposing the whole labour of plucking the leaves 
and feeding the worms are paid for, and the result is, that 
an orchard of one acre of these trees, at ten years old, would 
give a nett profit of $100 per annum. 

I may be enthusiastic in my views, but after great atten- 
tion to the subject, I have no hesitation in affirming it as my 
deliberate opinion, that the culture of silk holds forth a cer- 
tain prospect to the agriculturists of this country of the 
richest rewards. I could cite to you high authority for this 
opinion. England has made great efforts to rear the. silk 
worm, but owing to her continued rains and damp and dense 
atmosphere, she has not hitherto succeeded. On the first 
settlement of the state of Georgia, supposing the climate to 
be favorable, great encouragements were held out by the 
mother country, with considerable success — quantities of ex- 
cellent silk were produced ; but the war of the revolution put 
an end to the experiment. 

If public attention can be attracted to this subject, if our 
farmers can be induced to propogate the mulberry ; if our 
women, always ready to assist in public enterprizes, advan- 
tageous to their husbands and their country, can only be in- 
formed how to avail themselves of the advantages which 
must ensue on the culture of silk ; and if Congress will pa- 
tronize and support the measure by an appropriation for the 
projected school, our success I deem to be certain. 



39 

If that man deserves well of his country, who shall make 
two blades of grass grow where only one grew before ; what 
rewards await those who shall be instrumental in promoting 
the culture, the general culture of silk in the United States, 
which must meliorate the condition of our farmers, by giving 
to women and children so profitable an employment, and 
which must alleviate the condition of our poor. This culture 
is admirably adapted to that system which has now become 
almost universal in this state, the collection of paupers in 
county poor houses ; among the inmates of such establish- 
ments there will be many aged and decrepid persons, and 
children incapable of hard labour, but who would find it a 
pleasurable employment to collect the leaves of the mulber- 
ry, and to feed and attend to the silk worms. If those who 
have charge of these establishments, would at once attend to 
the planting of the mulberry along the fences and the roads, 
and other proper sites, there is every reasonable prospect, 
that from the culture of silk alone, in a few years, the ex- 
penses of the poor houses would be greatly mitigated, and 
eventually they may be able to support themselves from this 
source alone. I am very anxious to see the planting of the 
mulberry tree begun in earnest, by these establishments, be- 
cause from the facts I have alluded to, they are peculiarly 
adapted to such enterprize. 

There is another consideration, which strongly recom- 
mends the culture of silk, with a view of giving a profitable 
employment to women and children ; the establishment of 
manufactures, and the introduction of labour-saving machi* 
nery, have greatly superseded various household produc- 
tions. The exemption thus produced in household labour, 
require some profitable new employment, and it will be found 
in the culture of silk. 

Gentlemen — If the State Agricultural Society, about to be 
formed, shall be instrumental in introducing into this state, 



40 

the culture of silk, upon an extensive scale, and if they ef- 
fect nothing else, in my opinion, that alone will entitle them 
to the grateful thanks of this community. 

I have thus, I am sensible but imperfectly, given a hasty 
sketch of a subject, which is in my view, highly interesting 
and important. 

The Society then adjourned without day. 



APPENDIX. 



(CIRCULAR.) 

Albany, Feb. 24, 1&32. 
SIR, 

You will perceive, by the pamphlet which accompanies this, 
that a State Agricultural Society has been organized, for the pur- 
pose of improving our husbandry, horticulture and household arts, 
and that you have been designated as one of a general committee 
to aid in the furtherance of these objects of public utility. 

Without presuming to dictate, or to limit the exertions of the 
general committee, I would respectfully suggest, that the follow- 
ing, among other subjects, will particularly merit their attention. 

I. To encourage and promote the organization of county, or lo- 
cal societies, of agriculture and horticulture, as a means of excit- 
ing laudable emulation, and of promoting habits of industry, econo- 
my of labor, and improvement in the moral and social condition of 
society. 

II. To add to the numbers and means of the state society, by 
soliciting names to their constitution, and contributions to their 
funds. As the society pays neither salaries nor perquisites, its 
funds will be exclusively devoted to public and useful objects ; and 
it is believed the members will receive an equivalent for their sub. 
scription in the publications they will become entitled to. The 
benefits which the society shall be able to dispense, will therefore 
be measured by the extent of its funds. 

As one of the most efficient means of diffusing information, and 
thereby increasing its usefulness, the society contemplate the pub. 
lication of a periodical work, devoted exclusively to improvements 
in the rural arts. The better to enable them to fulfil their wishes 

in this respect, permit me, 

6 



42 

In the third place, to solicit communications, as well from oth- 
ers as from the members of the general committee, of well attested 
experiments and facts, 

1. In Stock Husbandry — in relation to the breeding, manage- 
ment, habits, diseases and the means of prevention and 
cure, of all kinds of domestic animals — methods of fatten- 
ing, and choice of breeds. 

2. In Tillage Husbandry — in relation to the cultivation of 
grains, grasses, field vegetables and other useful products — 
manures and their application, including lime, gypsum and 
marls — rotation of crops — improved implements — new ar- 
ticles of culture — draining — fences, including live fences — 
the orchard and manufacture of cider. 

3. In Horticulture — in reference to the culture of fruit and 
ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, and methods of pro- 
pagating them — the diseases to which they are incident, 
and the insects which do them injury, and the methods of 
prevention and cure — culinary vegetables, and the flower 
garden. 

4. In the Household Arts — embracing household fabrics^, 
rearing of silk worms — manufacture of butter and cheese — • 
of domestic wines — the preservation of fruits, and their va- 
rious preparations in household economy, &c. 

By collecting together the practical knowledge of our best 
farmers and gardners, in their respective branches of labor, a very 
valuable fund of information will be obtained, which, while it im- 
poverishes not the contributors, cannot fail to enrich, very greatly, 
the community at large. Such contributions, like the offerings of 
charity, are blessed to the giver as well as the receiver. It is a 
satisfaction perhaps somewhat peculiar to the philanthropic tiller 
of the soil, that while he is improving, by intelligence, skill and 
industry, his own temporal and moral condition, he is, by his ex- 
ample, benefiting those around him, and that his benefactions, in 
this way, are co-extensive with the knowledge ano! importance of 
his improvements* 



43 

Your name has been inserted on the general committee, under 
the impression that the society would find in you an efficient co- 
operator in their labors of usefulness. Should you, however, 
unexpectedly decline the duties which the appointment imposes, I 
beg to be notified thereof as early as convenient, that the execu- 
tive committee may appoint another in your stead. 

As the society propose to issue their first publication in the pre- 
sent year, it is desirable that communications intended for publica- 
tion, the invitation for which is intended to be general, should be 
forwarded to me as early in the autumn as convenient. 
Very respectfully, 

J. BUEL, Corresponding Secretary. 












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